A coordinated effort between the Greenbrier County Health Department and Greenbrier County Homeland Security and Emergency Management came together in less than 24 hours to distribute COVID-19 vaccinations to people in the area over the age of 80.
“This is the Moderna vaccine for residents over 80, everything has gone pretty smoothly this morning,” said Paula Brown of Greenbrier County Homeland Security and Emergency Management.
Brown stated that first responders were in the middle of training on Wednesday, December 30, when they received word that there would be approximately 150 vaccines to distribute to members of the community on Thursday, December 31.
Coordinated efforts between the local homeland security office and the health department pulled together a plan to distribute vaccines at the State Fair of West Virginia fairgrounds
This morning, cars began lining up around the fairgrounds around 7 a.m. for vaccinations that would begin at 9 a.m. By the time 9 a.m. rolled around the Greenbrier County Health Department posted on social media that they had reached their allotment of vaccinations for the day.
“This was extremely short notice,” Brown said. But the homeland security official was pleased with how well area first responders and health officials were able to put a plan in place quickly for vaccination distribution.
“The only thing that is slowing down this process is the lengthy registration process, other than that, everything seems to be working ok,” Brown said.
Brown stated that when cars arrived at the State Fairgrounds, eligible vaccine recipients were given a number and were told to listen for their number to be called on a localized radio station broadcast from the State Fair, the same one used for the Christmas at the Fair event.
Brown stated that most first responders have received the vaccine in Greenbrier County. Now it will begin being rolled out to the most vulnerable to COVID-19.
“It is critical to get these seniors and first responders vaccinated,” Brown said. “The most critical thing about first responder vaccinations is syncing up the vaccines with their work schedules.”
Brown said the rollout of the vaccine will go to seniors 80-years and older first, then 70s, 60s, etc. It will be months before the rest of the general population will be able to get the vaccine. Brown urged patience for the vaccination rollout.
But Brown was adamant that it is important for area residents to not bombard the Greenbrier County Health Department about more vaccines.
“Don’t go there for a vaccine. Don’t call them. They are overwhelmed with testing and distributing testing results. Our offices will use all local media and social media to inform the public when more vaccinations are available,” Brown said.
On their way out of the West Virginia Building on the state fairgrounds, Frank and Alice Hill of Lewisburg expressed their gratitude to be able to begin the vaccination process.
“It’s a huge relief, we’re anxious for the second shot,” Alice Hill said. The couple will get the second part of the vaccination in 28 days, they said.
Frank Hill stated that the whole operation inside was running smoothly but hoped area health officials can get more help to make the registration process faster.
The couple arrived at the fairgrounds at 7 am and were leaving, both having been vaccinated, by 9:30 a.m.
State Fairgrounds security officer James Vance stated he was the first to receive the vaccine on December 31.
Vance said he was feeling a sense of relief to begin the vaccination process, especially with his age and pre-existing conditions that put him at higher risk.
“I couldn’t even feel the needle,” Vance said.
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